DRY-B-LO DESIGNER DECK DRAIN SYSTEMS

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The Ultimate Guide To Modern Deck Materials

Date Published:

April 5th, 2017

Have you been thinking about replacing your deck? There are plenty of materials your deck can be made out of, and it’s up to you to learn what options are available. In our eyes, your deck should last for years to come and you shouldn’t have to keep up with maintenance when you don’t want to. By making sure your deck and deck drain is made out of the highest quality materials possible, we know you’ll be happy with the finished product. So, without further ado, here are the most popular modern deck and deck drain materials used today.

Pressure-Treated Lumber

If you’re searching for an economic answer, pressure-treated lumber may be for you. Despite its competition, this green-tinted wood is the number one decking material that’s sold in the United States today. In fact, Arch Treatment Technologies stated that approximately 75 percent of new decks built use pressure-treated lumber.

Many homeowners love pressure-treated lumber because it’s readily available, is easy to cut and install and is affordable. Plus, this wood is rot, fungus and bug boring resistant. Not many decks can provide homeowners with these features, which is why 75 percent of consumers choose this type of material.

Redwood and Cedar

The softwood of redwood and cedar provide natural beauty and rich color many homeowners welcome. Both Redwood and cedar are naturally resistant to decay, rot and voracious insects. How? They contain natural oils and tannins. One note to consider is that both types of wood require annual coating, and every three to four years require power washing. To keep the wood’s attractive color, a stain should be applied every couple of years. The cost of redwood and cedar is a little more pricey than pressure-treated lumber. In fact, it averages about $4 per linear foot. However, prices vary across the country.

Tropical Hardwoods

Want an exotic import deck and deck drain? Woods including massaranduba, red taurai, cumaru, tigerwood, Philippine mahogany and ipe are a few tropical hardwoods that are available. Not only are they durable, but they’re naturally resistant to insects and rot. However, they are hard and dense which means they are more difficult to cut and drill. Because of the durability of tropical hardwoods, these decks are relatively expensive in comparison to pressure-treated lumber. Another note to keep in mind is that because these woods are so dense, they don’t accept stains as well as other deck materials.

Composites

Composite decking material includes plastic lumber and any other materials that are artificially manufactured. Most decking materials that are considered composites are made from polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene. This does come with great benefits, such as being able to purchase a deck and deck drain in a variety of colors. Other composites include timberTech, Trex, Veranda and CorrectDeck. These decks are made of recycled plastic and wood fibers, and are highly weather resistant. You also don’t have to worry about rot, warps, stains, splinters or splinting boards. Prices vary when it comes to composite decks; however, a popular price paid is $2.50 per linear foot.

Aluminum

Ok, so aluminum isn’t as popular as we’d like, but it does exist. For some, it may be the perfect decking material; for others, not so much. Types of aluminum decking include AridDek, Versadeck and LockDry. They won’t warp, rot, rust, crack or splinter; plus, they’re slip, mold and weather-resistant. They have a powder coated finish which makes them a great deck if you’re looking to have it last forever. Other benefits include that they can’t catch fire, bugs that bore hate it, won’t get brittle and it’s strong. And for you green and earth friendly people out there, it’s totally recyclable.

There are many wonderful decks out there. Learn more about what deck material may be best for you and give our deck drain experts a call. Once your deck is fully installed, our team can make the space under it usable by installing a deck drain. To learn more, feel free to reach out to us online or give us a call at (303) 463-8880.